England kid Wilfried Zaha is a new Lionel Messi

I’ve never seen anything like him. His style is not based on anyone because he’s so unpredictable. He can draw two or three ­defenders to him and beat them

Crystal Palace academy manager Gary Issott

The man who knows him best says he plays like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

His club manager says he is so talented with a ball he could play for the Harlem Globetrotters.

England boss Roy Hodgson believes he could be a key man at the next World Cup.

No pressure there then!

The 20-year-old Crystal Palace winger is a star in the making, according to everyone who talks about him.

A surprise name in the England squad, he is making waves after leading the Eagles to the top of the Championship this season.

But the spotlight will be on him like never ­before if he gets on against Sweden tomorrow.

Zaha joined Palace aged 12 and spent years working with academy manager Gary Issott.

Nobody knows him better – and Issott claims England will have a special talent on their hands if Zaha decides to turn his back on the Ivory Coast and play for the Three Lions.

Issott said: “I’ve never seen anything like him. His style is not based on anyone because he’s so unpredictable. He can draw two or three ­defenders to him and beat them.

“It’s the sort of thing your Messis and Ronaldos do. He does it two or three times in a game – and he’s only 20. He’s doing it in every game.

“His fantastic dribbling and feet are the things that stand out. But he’s strong and quick as well. He also never shirks defensive responsibility, so he’s a real all-rounder.”

Issott remembers Zaha as a shy, withdrawn boy lacking in self-confidence when he first arrived at Palace. But by the time he was 17, Issott knew he had a top talent on his hands.

He said: “As a schoolboy he was painfully shy. He was an ­introvert and a bit lightweight. But at 17 he had filled out and started to believe in himself.

“The manager at the time, George Burley, asked for the best player in our system to come and train with the first team. He never came back.

“We were always trying to get him to believe in himself and his self-esteem has ­improved. He has responded. I ­remember when I first realised what we had. We played an FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Newcastle and got beaten 4-2, but he was outstanding, winning two ­penalties. I knew then how he good he was.

“It will be a really proud moment for me when he plays for England.”

Zaha was born in Abidjan, so he qualifies to play for Ivory Coast as well as England.

But Palace boss Holloway reckons he has so many tricks he wouldn’t look out of place playing basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters.

They tour the world playing exhibition games to show off their flair and athleticism, and ­Holloway claims Zaha has a similar talent.

He said: “He does it with both feet. He lures you in and teases you, and before you know it he’s done something. It’s almost like the Harlem Globetrotters.

“He can do it all with the ball at his feet, but he has a modern-day athleticism second to none.”

Holloway is convinced the 20-year-old can run rings around Sweden if he gets on tomorrow.

But he insists Zaha should not be too quick to jump ship and sign for one of the many Premier League clubs already watching him.

Holloway, who rates Zaha at £20m, said: “Sometimes these big clubs stack them and rack them. It’s not always the best thing for a player.

“He’s at a place where he’s going to play. I want him to enjoy himself, to play with a smile on his face, to beat people.

“He can beat anyone in the world if he’s confident enough. He’s an untouched, pure talent.

“If he beats you once, he might do it a second time. If he comes on for England, I’m sure he can beat the Swedes.

“I’ve never worked with ­anyone like him. He wants to get the ball and beat whatever’s in front of him.

“I find myself willing my other players to give him the ball. The more he gets it, the better he gets. I believe he can do it at the top level.

“Whoever is in front of him – a Championship player, a Premier League defender or an international – he can beat them.”